Partnerships take Center Stage at the Northwest Bronx Resource Center
The Northwest Bronx Resource Center has been engaged through ongoing and new programs to bring housing, financial, and community services to our Bronx neighborhood. Connecting community residents with the resources, information, and support to build economic and housing stability is our goal – a goal that we achieve with the ongoing support of our partners; private, public, community, and nonprofit.
As its name implies, the UNHP Northwest Bronx Resource Center (NWBRC) strives to bring resources to our Bronx community. Formally created in 2012, the NWBRC, has helped 10,854 households with 24,202 housing and financial services and offered thousands of referrals to trusted partners. Collaborative from its start, UNHP works with other effective groups to offer a range of interconnected housing and financial services and programs to Bronx residents in English and Spanish. Partnerships are created around a shared mission with UNHP doing the outreach and scheduling. The NWBRC offers direct services in two Bronx locations, one at Refuge House, a Fordham Bedford Community Services center, and the other at West Tremont Avenue in the community spaces of one of UNHP’s affordable housing projects. In this post, UNHP would like to thank our many partners, those who work with us week in and week out to offer services at the Northwest Bronx Resource Center as well as those who partner with the NWBRC for outreach and special events. Thanks to this effort, many Bronx families and individuals have been empowered to address their financial situation and work towards their goals as well as take the steps necessary to remain housed and seek a decent affordable home.
Fordham Bedford Community Services (FBCS) and Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation (FBHC) are both cousin organizations and community partners. Our organizations developed out of a grassroots people power movement, Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, and our missions and work styles align well. UNHP collaborates with FBHC in many ways mostly around preserving the affordability of community-developed affordable housing. In November our organizations, along with Bronx housing seekers, collaborated to work with our local council member, Pierina Sanchez, to address issues with the NYC online affordable housing lottery, Housing Connect. Read about that meeting here.
Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation, UNHP Northwest Bronx Resource Center, and Bronx Ahora, a group of Bronx housing seekers organized a meeting with Council Member and Housing Chair, Pierina Sanchez to share the challenges and frustrations with Housing Connect, NYC online affordable housing lottery.
The Northwest Bronx Resource Center also works closely with Fordham Bedford Community Services. FBCS runs and manages programs for children, senior citizens, and neighborhood residents at multiple Bronx locations, including Refuge House, also one of the site offices for the NWBRC. FBCS offers after-school programs, a youth summer camp, college access programming, immigration services, and services for senior citizens. FBCS also runs a large daycare provider network under the auspices of the Board of Education that provides professional development for the providers and high-quality, culturally appropriate early education for families with young children. One way we work with FBCS is by providing financial empowerment and business management workshops for these home-based businesses. In 2023, UNHP provided a presentation to 42 of the providers about retirement income, tax filing, and the basics of social security. UNHP is proud to share Refuge House with FBCS and expand and complement the services it provides to neighborhood residents.
Working in shared space and with a shared community-based mission, Fordham Bedford Community Services and UNHP partner in many ways. From the top right, a staff financial education workshop, assistance with Section 8 applications, and bottom financial empowerment workshops led by Chase Bank and Valley Bank.
Ariva is a leader in free tax preparation services in New York City and works to empower low-wealth New Yorkers with effective tools and resources so they can make informed financial choices and achieve economic stability. The NWBRC with its core goals to build financial stability, knowledge, and empowerment found an excellent partner in Ariva! UNHP partners with Ariva for their Ready to Rent Financial Counseling program and offers the service once weekly at the Northwest Bronx Resource Center and at special events. UNHP refers many of our program users to Ariva for their Free Tax Preparation program. Ariva and UNHP are both members of the Credit Builders Alliance CBA members so our goals around financial literacy align – this is made easier with their master trainers on staff. Ariva and UNHP are also members of a mutual administration society as Ariva gave us a shout-out last month and will honor our long-time work together at their upcoming Toast to Ariva fundraiser.
The NYC Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit (formerly NYC Tenant Support Unit) is a NYC initiative to assist tenants at risk of harassment or displacement, the Unit provides assistance and referrals to tenants facing eviction, landlord harassment, poor housing conditions, and seeking affordable housing. In addition to legal referrals, TSU helps tenants by connecting them to other vital City services, such as HomeBase and HRA Job Centers. UNHP has been fortunate to work with Jose Colon from TSU for the past four years. He works closely with NWBRC staff – from our two offices – and has been effective in assisting clients to apply for and receive “one-shot deals” and resolve landlord harassment issues, especially during the peak of COVID as tenants were navigating the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and other housing subsidies.
UNHP has partnered since 2016 with the NYC Department of Finance and their NYC Rent Freeze for seniors and tenants with disabilities (also known as SCRIE and DRIE). The NYC Rent Freeze offers a way for eligible people to make their current homes affordable for the long term by freezing their rent from lease renewal rent increases. The landlord gets a tax break and the tenants can feel secure that their rent will remain the same. This partnership meets the goals of both partners and helps us bring these programs to our tenants and residents in the northwest Bronx. Since our first canvassing day, during the summer of 2016 , UNHP has worked with over 315 households and has helped them freeze their rent.
The Northwest Bronx Resource Center relies on its partners to provide a range of housing and financial services to our Bronx community. From the top left, Jose from NYC Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit provides eviction prevention and housing services, and Sergio, a financial counselor with Ariva, provides 1:1 financial counseling through the Ready to Rent program. Resource Center staff help seniors and people with disabilities apply for a NYC Rent Freeze in partnership with the NYC Department of Finance. Pictured left is our long-time DOF contact, Michael with a pleased Rent Freeze recipient. POTS, another long-time partner, offers a variety of services including SNAP enrollment and pantry groceries.
The Bronx Financial Access Coalition (BxFAC) is one of our newest partners. BxFAC, a partnership of Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association (BKCIA), University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP), We Stay/Nos Quedamos, and the Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco), seeks to increase access to quality affordable and convenient financial services in the Bronx. Formed between 2020 and 2022 in response to a spate of bank branch closings in the Bronx, the Coalition has partnered with the Lower East Side People’s Federal Credit Union to move towards bringing a branch to the Bronx. Together we are dedicated to expanding and solidifying the financial opportunities for the residents of the Bronx. Our most immediate goal is to open a new credit union in the Bronx with LES People’s FCU. For 38 years, the LES credit union has offered free checking accounts, credit builder loans, low-cost auto loans, and accounts for members with ITINs who may have trouble opening accounts at a traditional bank. For now, these services are offered in Bronx neighborhoods through their mobile branch van which launched in April 2022. UNHP hosts the mobile branch at one of our sites about twice a month. A permanent branch in the Bronx will be the Lower East Side People’s Federal Credit Union’s fourth location. Webster Bank is the premier funding partner for the work of the BXFAC to bring a credit union to the Bronx. In addition to generous funding, Webster Bank has led financial education workshops in both English and Spanish with the BXFAC partners.
How many partners does it take to open a credit union branch in the Bronx? One premiere sponsor, Webster Bank, + one long-established Credit Union looking to serve lower-income communities + 4 experienced community organizations! Thanks, Webster Bank. LES People’s FCU, Whedco, Nos Quedamos, Banana Kelly, and UNHP!
Featured referral partners:
Part of the Solution (POTS) started out as a soup kitchen in 1982 and now offers a “single stop” to people in need, offering a wide range of assistance from meals to social services. POTS provides SNAP and case management to UNHP program users in a seamless referral connection. POTS is truly a neighborhood partner as they are within walking distance from the Northwest Bronx Resource Center and has been a community partner with UNHP for many years. We have collaborated in a number of ways with our programming including offering a hybrid in-person and virtual ASK UNHP on Housing Connect, and POTS has hosted the Bronx Peoples’ Credit Union Mobile Branch several times to great success!
Legal Aid Society works with UNHP by providing a trained legal expert at special events and by direct referral who can work with homeowners and assist them to address their mortgage, lien and foreclosure issues, and remain in their homes. Assistance with STAR program enrollment is also available to senior and low-income homeowners to reduce property taxes.
In addition to providing grant support, many Banks partner with the Northwest Bronx Resource Center to offer financial education, first-time homebuyer workshops, retirement options, and more. Pictured from the top left, Apple Bank, Ridgewood Savings, Valley Bank, and Chase Bank.
ASK UNHP is a monthly live bilingual Zoom that offers attendees the opportunity to learn about financial and housing programs and ask their questions directly to our own Jumelia Abrahamson, the director of programs for UNHP. ASK UNHP was initiated during Covid and draws between 10 and 30 attendees each month. While questions are welcome at each session, presentation topics vary; 2023 topics included first-time homeownership, applying to the NYC affordable housing lottery, setting long-term goals, budgeting, college planning, and banking. ASK UNHP is also another opportunity to let our partners shine. Private, public, and non-profit partners have joined us on ASK UNHP sharing their expertise with the virtual attendees. POTS, Spring Bank, Apple Bank, Chase Bank, Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners, LES People’s Credit Union, Ridgewood Savings, and Columbia University Financial Aid are among the costars of recent ASK UNHP offerings.
Screenshots from two different ASK the Banker sessions, one with Chase Bank (top) and the other with representatives from Spring Bank, LES People’s Credit Union, Neighborhood Trust Federal Credit Union, and Ridgewood Savings Bank. The monthly ASK UNHP Zoom sessions provide information on a relevant topic and an opportunity for attendees to ask their questions. Both sessions centered around low-cost wealth-building products available at these branches.
Partnerships help UNHP bring the financial and housing resources that our neighborhood needs to your community. In addition to the groups highlighted, the Northwest Bronx Resource Center has worked with many other groups and organizations including Fordham and Manhattan University, HSBC, Capital One, NTFP, NHS, Citibank, Santander Bank, Legal Services, and Legal Aid. Read more about our collaborative work on our blog and in our 2023 NWBRC Annual report. Thank you for working with UNHP!